This blog is a forum to highlight, celebrate and share the good works of people and organizations making our world a better place, especially those who are dedicated to catching the hurtful stones we are prone to cast at, or throw in the path of, the marginalized, vulnerable and victimized among us. Be a stonecatcher!

Friday, April 8, 2016

"Invest in Someone on Their Best Day" - A Positive Approach to Community Development

Instead of focusing on problems, Rev. Bill Stanfield presents a compelling case that "philanthropy should focus on discovering and investing in the assets of particular individuals and neighborhoods." He strongly believes in Asset Based Community Development that is driven by the people and organizations in the community. They know know the issues best, and represent the essential fabric of the community.

In his approach, Stanfield certainly takes community problems seriously.Yet his method goes beyond simply identifying problems, and then funneling dependency-creating aid into the community to relieve the symptoms. It examines the problems and looks for available community assets that could, if given proper investment with the residents' buy-in, solve the problem itself.

Stanfield's points compliment those made by Robert D. Lupton in his must-read book Toxic Charity. Lupton argues that "unexamined generosity" can become toxic when "people full of compassion forget the fundamentals when it comes to building relationships with those they attempt to serve. Forging ahead to meet a need, we often ignore the basics: mutuality, reciprocity, accountability."

Stanfield's approach and Lupton's book taken together offer a primer for all who want to "do good" to help communities "do well."

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Red Truck Stonecatcher

Be A Stonecatcher!

I drive a red truck. I want to catch stones. This blog is a forum to highlight, celebrate and share the good works of people and organizations making our world a better place, especially those who are dedicated to catching the hurtful stones we are prone to cast at, or throw in the path of, the marginalized, vulnerable, and victimized among us, which prevents them from realizing the recognition, respect, and rights a just world should afford everyone. Invest in each other and work together. Be a stonecatcher!